A HISTOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF EARLY PHASES OF CARIES ON THE ORGANIC COMPONENT OF THE ENAMEL OF THE SYRIAN HAMSTER

¹ Section of Oral Pathology, Division of Preclinical Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, Calif.

A histological study of the organic matrix of the enamel and dentin of a limited number of the teeth of the Syrian hamster indicates that the early phases of the disease of caries may be associated with the early breakdown of the organic component of the structure. In this respect caries in the hamster seems to be similar to that in the human being. This mechanism includes the presence of organisms in the plaque, the breakdown of the organic cuticle followed by the invasion of coccoidal organisms into specific tracts in the enamel and along the lateral walls of the dentinal tubules. This early phase of caries of the lamellae precedes the formation of open cavities, is microscopic in nature and can be observed only by histological methods.

It is postulated that the early extension of the disease process is concerned with an enzymatic breakdown of the organic matrix together with the presence of an acid which would produce a demineralization of the apatite lattice of the enamel.